Uganda: Beyond Kony 2012

"Effective political action must address, and seek to alter, the power relations that perpetuate the problem it seeks to solve. Often, finding a workable solution means changing how groups interact with each other, whether by increasing the power and capabilities of one of the groups, facilitating new forms of compromise and collaboration, or establishing new boundaries or safeguards. As many valuable critiques of Kony 2012 have pointed out, killing Kony or “bringing him to justice” does little to alter the situation in Central Africa, or the years of colonialism, exploitation, and political failure that allowed Kony to come to power in the first place. The actions of the campaign do not help those who have been terrorized by Kony take charge of their own lives or support a vibrant political system that serves their needs."

Sam Menefee-Libey, 

"Beyond Kony 2012: Atrocity, Awareness, & Activism in the Internet Age"

While the focus of my research in northern Uganda has nothing to do with Invisible Children's Kony 2012 campaign, it was, I admit, one of the precipitants for choosing the research question I did. In short, after watching the Kony 2012 video and consuming critique after critique, my reaction was, "what about the rest of the story? Rebuilding, rehabilitation, reconciliation." Thus, a research question was born. 


In addition to my research, I'm writing a paper on the critiques, ethics, and implications of  the Kony 2012 campaign for human rights activism and advocacy writ large. A friend recently brought Chris Blattman's fantastic blog to my attention, where I found this treasure of an e-book:


Beyond Kony 2012: Atrocity, Awareness, & Activism in the Internet Age (edited by Amanda Taub)


If you're at all interested in some measured and well-researched responses to Kony 2012, most authored by academics, practitioners, and journalists who focused on the conflict prior to IC's efforts, you can download the e-book for $2.99 on Leanpub.


Another recently discovered resource is the blog Making Sense of Kony with links to articles and analyses from around the world, including a host of African voices.

It is necessary that the weakness of the powerless is transformed into a force capable of announcing justice. For this to happen, a total denouncement of fatalism is necessary. We are transformative beings and not beings for 

accommodation.

Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed